Famine and Shipwreck, an Irish Odyssey

The title to this documentary was very poorly chosen, as you'd assume that a major part of this film would involve a shipwreck. However, this is NOT what the film is all about but instead is about some Canadians researching to see what life was like for their relatives during the dreaded potato famine of the late 1840s. And, to do that, they travel both to where their descendants lived in Canada and Ireland.

I really wish I'd had this documentary when I was a world history teacher, as the filmmakers did a great job showing both how awful the famine was AND how the English and Irish landlords did much to exacerbate the starvation. I was shocked to learn that during the famine, Ireland was STILL exporting food to Britain!! This and other methods were employed in an apparent attempt to depopulate Ireland...which is just shocking and sad to learn. A touching and sad film about a story that needs to be remembered. Well made and worth your time.